Thomas J. Grimsrud
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Tom Grimsrud passed away peacefully on December 26, 2020. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota on June 26, 1927. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann. They were married for 64 years. Surviving him are his youngest brother Richard Grimsrud and wife Diane of Iron River, Wisconsin, and his three children and their spouses- Jim and Kathy Grimsrud of Flatonia, Texas, Annette Kyle of Friendswood, Texas, and Elizabeth and Jason Botkin of Bayou Vista, Texas. Also surviving are five grandchildren- Brian (Danielle) Grimsrud, Jeff (Laura) Grimsrud, Shannon (Cole) Easterling, Madalyn (Josh) Werking, and Brooke Botkin- one great grandson Ethan Grimsrud, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Arizona.
Tom graduated from Central High School in Wisconsin in 1945 and then joined the Navy just prior to the end of World War II. One of the stories he loved to tell was that "the enemy heard he signed up so they surrendered quickly." He enrolled in college and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1950 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He worked most of his career for PetroTex/Texas Petro Chemicals and retired in 1991.
Tom and Mary Ann moved to Friendswood in 1962. He was involved with his children in baseball, Boy Scouts, and Little League. He helped start baseball in Friendswood through giving his time and labor in building fields and coaching the first organized team in Friendswood. One of his passions was gardening and planting enough vegetables for the family and neighbors. He supplied homemade pickles and candies for friends around the holidays.
A celebration of life, in today's world, is planned for June 26, 2021. It would have been his 94th birthday.
Condolences may be sent to the Grimsrud family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.